This Community Forum and Annual Public Meeting is a partnership event presented by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) and the Human Rights Committee of the Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadians Citizens Association (GVJCCA).

The event will begin with the unveiling of a plaque in commemoration of Cunningham vs. Tomekichi 'Tomey' Homma, who fought for the voting rights for Japanese Canadians (other Asian Canadians had similar treatment of having no right to vote) in the early 20th century.

A forum with panel discussions and dialogues will follow. We hope to foster intercommunity relations through the sharing of historical perspectives among different East Asian Canadian Communities, and then move forward to engage in discussions involving recent issues that affect our communities.

Annual Public Meeting proceedings will commence at 4pm.

This event is free and open to the public, but your registration is kindly requested for logistical purposes.

Panelists

Melissa Briones

When she immigrated to Canada in 2011, Melissa worked as the editor-in-chief of Philippine Canadian Inquirer, one of the largest Filipino-Canadian newspaper published Canada-wide. After graduating with a degree in Human Resources Management (with honours) in Ashton College in Vancouver, she moved on to become the Legal Officer and HR Manager of Organika Health Products Inc., a vitamin and health supplement company. She was also very active in the Filipino community as a member of the RCMP Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee.

A Philippine lawyer, she recently obtained her Canadian Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation in 2017 and is carrying out her articling year at Lonsdale Law.

Que-Tran Hoang

Que-Tran Hoang was born in 1980 in Saigon, Vietnam. She immigrated to Vancouver, Canada in 1993 with her mother, who was a refugee and part of the "Boat People" wave. She is holding a Bachelor of Business Management, and a Master of Arts in Integrated Studies. She is currently working as a Real Estate Appraiser and is a Candidate Member of the Appraisal Institute of Canada.
Que-Tran has been volunteering in the Vietnamese-Canadian community in BC since 1997. She is an active member of the Vietnamese-Canadian community, and has been holding various leadership positions in the community such as:

Activities Coordinator of the Vietnamese-Canadian community from 1998 to 2000,

President of the Vietnamese Student Society in BC, from 2000 to 2003,

Co-Founder of the Vietnamese Language Advisory Committee in 2007

Member of the Cultural Diversity Committee of BC Global T.V. between 2006 - 2009

Member of Vancouver Police Department Diversity Advisory Committee between 2008-2010

Worked as a Constituency Assistant to Adrian Dix, MLA between 2006-2015

Lac Viet Radio Talk Show Host - 2006 to Present

Erica Isomura

Erica Isomura is a fourth generation Japanese- and Chinese Canadian, born and raised
in the Lower Mainland on unceded Coast Salish territories. She was the curatorial &
programming assistant for Nikkei National Museum’s Hastings Park 1942 exhibit and is
now developing the museum’s youth arts & culture programming for spring 2018. Next
year, she will be starting The Writer’s Studio program at Simon Fraser University.

Art Miki

Arthur Miki has had a distinguished career as an educator and community activist. He began his career as an elementary school teacher and later served as principal for 18 years. Throughout his career, Dr. Miki dedicated a considerable amount of time to promoting positive race relations and a greater understanding between peoples, as well as to increase awareness of human rights issues in Canada.

He was formerly the Vice Chairperson of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, Vice President of the Manitoba Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, and President of the Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba.

Dr. Miki is an active leader in the Japanese Canadian community, having served as president of the National Association of Japanese Canadians from 1984-1992. In 1991 he received this country's highest recognition, the Order of Canada. In October 1999 he received an Honourary Doctorate degree from the University of Winnipeg, and on July 12, 2012 he received the Order of Manitoba.

Tommy Tao

Tommy W.K. Tao is a lawyer and writer. He came to Canada in 1968, graduated from the U.B.C. Law School in 1991, and has been practicing law in Vancouver since 1992. Among other things, he has served as Chairman of the Special Advisory Committee on Race Relations to the City of Vancouver, Vice-Chairman of SUCCESS, Trustee of the Vancouver Art Gallery, member of the Practice Standards Committee for the Law Society of BC, and President of the B.C. Chamber Orchestra Society.

Tommy is frequently invited to speak or comment on current public affairs as well as on legal issues. He has published two books in Chinese: Through the Eyes of a Dragonfly, a collection of essays on topics ranging from political and social issues to personal reflections, and A Practical Guide to Canadian Law, a collection of articles for public legal education.

In 2000, Tommy was honoured by his fellow lawyers in Vancouver with the Community Service Award, which is issued by the B.C. Branch of the Canadian Bar Association for “exceptional contribution to the life and well-being of his or her community”.

Eunice Oh

Bio coming soon!

Queenie Choo (Moderator)

Queenie Choo was an immigrant 36 years ago to Canada. Since then, Queenie works very hard to pursue her career and has held many senior leadership positions in varied organizations. She was appointed as the first CEO to commission the first culturally based seniors care home in Edmonton Alberta. With her strong background in continuing care, in 2010 Queenie was appointed as the Executive Director responsible for redesigning the home and community health system at Alberta Health Services.

Demonstrated with effective leadership ability, in 2012 Queenie was appointed as the CEO of S.U.C.C.E.S.S ., the largest non-profit social service organization in BC. Queenie’s role has been based on her ability to blend a rigorous and result oriented approach with a genuine sensitivity to people. She has led the teams to develop many innovative programs in the area of skills and training, employment, business development, settlement, language, family & youth for newcomers as well as seniors care and housing.

Queenie is the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee award recipient for her significant contributions to the community as well as the Excellence in Nursing Administration award. In addition, Queenie is recognized as one of the most influential women in BC, RBC top 25 Canadian Immigrants and nominee for YWCA Women of Distinction Awards in 2016.